David Francis has more than 15 years' experience of advising on pensions-related matters. He advises companies and trustees on all legal issues affecting their defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans. His expertise ranges from the establishment of plans (including plan design, documentation, administration, compliance, investment and cross-border pension issues) through to advising on funding, merging, pension benefit changes, liability management exercises, restructuring and winding up. David also advises on trust law aspects and pension adjustment orders, as well as pension disputes, mediation and litigation. He has considerable expertise in advising on the pension aspects of corporate mergers, acquisitions, re-organisations, flotations, outsourcing and privatisations.
A&L Goodbody LLP
The pensions and incentives practice at A&L Goodbody LLP stands out for assisting public and private sector clients with the full gamut of contentious and non-contentious pension related matters. Practice head David Main routinely advises on occupational pension schemes and personal pension arrangements, while Keavy Ryan, who leads the incentives practice, is experienced in handling all aspects of share incentive mandates. Chris Comerford and David Francis are key names within the practice, regularly acting for employers, trustees and those operating in the pensions and investment elements of corporate transactions and benefit scheme restructurings. Aoife Malone focuses on the restructuring and winding-up of defined benefit pension schemes, and the pension aspects of M&A.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Very high-level participation by senior staff; Partner very active, hands-on, and always available for consultation. Advice is always well considered and reflects deep knowledge and experience of pension issues and legal precedent.’
- ‘The following stand out; knowledge, experience, articulate and give the trustees a high level of confidence in the advice being imparted. David Main is the hands-on partner dealing with our scheme.’
- ‘The share plans team in A&L Goodbody are first class. They have a deep and broad level of experience and can provide advice on a wide variety of share plan solutions. They are also well known in the industry in Ireland, so it is really easy to have them work with our other third parties as they will have engaged with them previously and have good relationships with many of our other partners.’
- ‘Rosaleen Boyle couldn't be more helpful, and in particular, over the last few months, we have had a few workstreams with the team. The timeliness of responses and ability to turn around our requests efficiently is one of this team's core strengths.’
- ‘Excellent technical skills as well as commercial approach.’
- ‘Chris Comerford and David Francis - excellent technical lawyers - able to drill down to get to the heart of the legal point - but the ability to take a commercial approach when required.’
- ‘The team is consistent over many years, which has helped to build a solid client relationship between all stakeholders. Efficient and thorough are words that spring to mind to describe the services received.’
- ‘David Main - first-rate pension lawyer, providing excellent client service.’
Key clients
- Irish Airline Pilots Pensions and Irish Airlines Pensions DAC
- The Trustees of the Bank of Ireland Staff Pensions Fund
- KPMG
- Heineken Ireland Limited
- Zurich
- Aviva
- Capita
- Tesco
- GE
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Allianz
- CRH plc
- Permanent TSB
- Trustee of AA Ireland Pension Scheme
- Xerox
- SMBC Aviation
- Trustees of the Gulf Ireland Pensions Plan
- Northern Trust
- Sun Life
- Trustee of the Concern Worldwide Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Kennedy Wilson Europe
- MacKay Shields
- Becton Dickinson
- Upjohn Manufacturing
- Purmo Group
- Chevron
- Acorn
Work highlights
- Advised NatWest on the pensions implications of the sales of Ulster Bank loan books to AIB and PTSB in the context of the withdrawal of Ulster Bank from the Irish market.
- Advised Corebridge Financial (Laya Healthcare’s parent company) on the €650m sale of Laya Healthcare to Axa.
- Advised Bank of Ireland on the employee incentives aspects of its €427m acquisition of Davy Stockbrokers.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
David Main is a Partner and Head of Pensions at A&L Goodbody. David has 20 years' experience advising a wide range of Irish and international businesses, trustees and regulators, across state, semi-state and private sectors on all aspects of their pensions affairs and is recognised as an expert in Irish pensions law. David has particular experience advising companies in the financial, pharma and manufacturing sectors as well as trustee boards. He advises on liability management issues, trustee governance, regulatory issues, scheme documentation, dispute resolution, pensions products, restructuring and winding-up defined benefit plans, investment, and the pensions aspects of mergers and acquisitions.
Keavy Ryan is a partner within Corporate and M&A and specialises in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, company law, corporate governance, and commercial and contractual arrangements. She advises leading Irish and international, public and private companies, equity funds and financial institutions, with significant operations in Ireland across a broad range of legal, regulatory, commercial and financial affairs. Keavy also manages the firm's equity benefits group. Keavy advises on all aspects of share incentives including the treatment of share incentives in M&A transactions and corporate governance, regulatory and shareholder issues arising from the establishment and operation of share plans and executive remuneration programs. Keavy is a member of the firm's Talent Group and is responsible for the firm's Trainee Solicitor and Intern Programme. Keavy is also a member of our German Group and is a fluent German speaker. Keavy has significant experience as an in-house lawyer having completed secondments (once as acting general counsel) with two major multinational IT and telecommunications entities with a presence in Ireland.
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
David Main, Keavy Ryan